Thursday, November 08, 2007

Under intense international pressure to restore democracy in Pakistan, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf announced Thursday that parliamentary elections will be held by Feb. 15 and restated his pledge to step down as the country's military leader."I am on record as saying these things so this is not an issue with me," Musharraf said, speaking after his meeting with the National Security Council...The state of emergency will remain in place for at least a month, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, told CNN Thursday.In addition, Pakistan's government Thursday began lifting the media blackout imposed as part of the emergency order, allowing CNN and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) back on the air.

Next, of course, international pressure will focus on other dictators who are squelching freedom within their borders, like Putin and Chavez. Right? Right?